Add guacamole (healthy fat) and it's only 810 calories. Or save half for later and it's only 405 calories. How is 405 or even 810 calories worth of those ingredients possibly be considered unhealthy OR caloric?

If you MUST eat an entire BURRITO adding the tortilla brings the caloric total to 1,200. Sounds like a lot but not if you eat clean the rest of the day.

Add guacamole (healthy fat) and it's only 810 calories. Or save half for later and it's only 405 calories. How is 405 or even 810 calories worth of those ingredients possibly be considered unhealthy OR caloric?

I agree. And if you're going paleo, skip the rice and beans.

The big problem with Chipotle is sodium content in its rub for it's meat and in the guacamole, so just be sure to watch how often you eat it.

Anyone concerned about additives shouldn't eat in restaurants ever, but who can maintain a social life and live that way long term?

Yes, the additives are a concern - consider the sodium alone - but I eat clean the rest of the day and save Chipotle for the days I don't cook. A few additives and a little sodium aren't going to hurt me. I'm not one of those people that wash down an entire "healthy" pizza with a "0 calorie" diet coke. Hell, twice a year I'll have a Whopper heavy everything minus cheese and mayo. It won't kill me. A weekly "healthy" cheat makes keeping honest the rest of the time easy.

eagermuscle saidAnyone concerned about additives shouldn't eat in restaurants ever, but who can maintain a social life and live that way long term?

Yes, the additives are a concern - consider the sodium alone - but I eat clean the rest of the day and save Chipotle for the days I don't cook. A few additives and a little sodium aren't going to hurt me. I'm not one of those people that wash down an entire "healthy" pizza with a "0 calorie" diet coke. Hell, twice a year I'll have a Whopper heavy everything minus cheese and mayo. It won't kill me. A weekly "healthy" cheat makes keeping honest the rest of the time easy.

eagermuscle saidAnyone concerned about additives shouldn't eat in restaurants ever, but who can maintain a social life and live that way long term?

Yes, the additives are a concern - consider the sodium alone - but I eat clean the rest of the day and save Chipotle for the days I don't cook. A few additives and a little sodium aren't going to hurt me. I'm not one of those people that wash down an entire "healthy" pizza with a "0 calorie" diet coke. Hell, twice a year I'll have a Whopper heavy everything minus cheese and mayo. It won't kill me. A weekly "healthy" cheat makes keeping honest the rest of the time easy.

Not true. A lot of quality places use raw, pure ingredients in their food, with no questionable additives. Fast food is chock full of them, many of which are not even listed, and do not have to be due to labeling laws.

eagermuscle saidAnyone concerned about additives shouldn't eat in restaurants ever, but who can maintain a social life and live that way long term?

Yes, the additives are a concern - consider the sodium alone - but I eat clean the rest of the day and save Chipotle for the days I don't cook. A few additives and a little sodium aren't going to hurt me. I'm not one of those people that wash down an entire "healthy" pizza with a "0 calorie" diet coke. Hell, twice a year I'll have a Whopper heavy everything minus cheese and mayo. It won't kill me. A weekly "healthy" cheat makes keeping honest the rest of the time easy.

Not true. A lot of quality places use raw, pure ingredients in their food, with no questionable additives. Fast food is chock full of them, many of which are not even listed, and do not have to be due to labeling laws.

It doesn't appear you have been to a Chipotle. They prepare all their produce in each store. If you get chopped onions, lettuce, peppers, etc. in your meal it was cut up that day in that store. A colleague of mine was hired to source local and organic produce for the Colorado stores. The beans are cooked in a central kitchen in each town and delivered to each store daily.

Dear Chipotle:We've been trying to cut out anything and everything that could possibly be causing a reaction in our sensitive daughter. As my husband doesn't (know how to) cook, I am looking for a bit of relief in the form of a restaurant we can eat at when I just need a night off! We all love Chipotle, so I decided to inquire about their food, and while it took about a week to get a response, I'm very pleased to have received such a thorough, thoughtful one. They actually volunteered additional information! Thought I would share. I've included my original question at the bottom for those interested.

Chipotle's Response:Thanks for writing to us. We do not use artificial colors, TBHQ , BHA, BHT, MSG or sodium nitrate in any of our foods. However, many foods have naturally occurring glutamic acid, an amino acid within a protein. Glutamic acid can be “free” of the protein and in the form of glutamates, the salt or anions of glutamic acid. “Free” glutamates can be naturally found in tomatoes, cheese and dairy foods, meats, and protein-rich foods. Our food is definitely protein-rich and has naturally occurring “free” glutamates. Again, we do not use MSG or any MSG-related ingredients in our food or seasonings. We also do not use ingredients such as natural flavors/flavorings, autolyzed yeast extracts, and hydrolyzed proteins – or other things that are highly processed specifically to create free glutamates to enhance flavor. We season with fresh herbs, spices and kosher salt.As far as our corn tortillas are concerned, we use propionic acid, phosphoric acid and benzoic acid in order to preserve their freshness. I would definitely caution your daughter to be careful with her food choices and be very prudent about eating at our restaurants. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

By default their meat is pasture raised, free range, and often organic. The require producers raise their animals without antibiotics. If ever they are forced to use meat other than the above standards, and that can happen due to supply issues, they post a prominent sign in the store. I have a couple of ranching buddies who sell them meat. I haven't followed the chain between the ranches and the restaurants, so I can't comment there. Their PR department would be happy to tell you.

It's really strange to find a restaurant chain that values good food. Says a lot about the state of food in the USA. I feel that Chipotle is doing it right.

eagermuscle saidAnyone concerned about additives shouldn't eat in restaurants ever, but who can maintain a social life and live that way long term?

Yes, the additives are a concern - consider the sodium alone - but I eat clean the rest of the day and save Chipotle for the days I don't cook. A few additives and a little sodium aren't going to hurt me. I'm not one of those people that wash down an entire "healthy" pizza with a "0 calorie" diet coke. Hell, twice a year I'll have a Whopper heavy everything minus cheese and mayo. It won't kill me. A weekly "healthy" cheat makes keeping honest the rest of the time easy.

Not true. A lot of quality places use raw, pure ingredients in their food, with no questionable additives. Fast food is chock full of them, many of which are not even listed, and do not have to be due to labeling laws.

Yes there are preservatives but you can't avoid them 100% of the time - if I lived in a vacuum or an ashram it'd be easy exclusively patronizing those quality places you mention. Unfortunately, most of us have to maintain business, social and romantic circles that are not on board or if they were, are not any longer. Do you dispute that Chipotle's the healthiest fast food? Why is everybody preaching to the choir arguing that fast food chain food is bad for you instead of putting forth a tougher argument - that if they were to have to opt for the convenience of fast food, Chipotle would not be the best choice?

eagermuscle saidYes there are preservatives but you can't avoid them 100% of the time - if I lived in a vacuum or an ashram it'd be easy exclusively patronizing those quality places you mention. Unfortunately, most of us have to maintain business, social and romantic circles that are not on board or if they were, are not any longer. Do you dispute that Chipotle's the healthiest fast food? We all know that fast food is bad for you, so why is everybody preaching to the choir?

To be honest, based on some of the posts here, Chipotle seems pretty redeeming, if you use their menu properly. Having never been, I threw them n with most fast food restaurants.